Rewari/Shahjahanpur: The traffic situation between Jaipur and Delhi-NCR is unlikely to improve in the coming days as the protest site on the highway (NH48) on the Haryana-Rajasthan border is swelling in size, with farmers vowing not to move till their demands are met.
Over the past five days, participation in the latest agitation has increased, with many farmers bound for the Tikri border redirecting themselves to Jaisinghpur Khera in Rewari, especially those from districts in Rajasthan bordering Punjab, such as Hanumangarh and Sri Ganganagar. On Thursday, more than 100 members of Rajasthan Grameen Kisan Samiti reached the site, with ration loaded on their tractor trolleys.
“Till December 15, about 20 of us were at the Tikri border. When we got to know about this protest, we came here to strengthen it,” said Sukhmander Singh, a farmer from Hanumangarh.
Some farmers said they were protesting not just for themselves, but for the common man, as well as future generations. “Once we understood the impact of the three agriculture laws, we got members of our community to join the movement and reached the Tikri border, but moved to Jaisinghpur Khera because there were fewer people at that time. We hope more people will come in three-four days,” said Gurdayal Singh, an 80-year-old farmer.
The protest at the site is being led by Yogendra Yadav, a member of the All-India Kisan Sangharsh Samiti and national president of Swaraj India. “Over 3,000 farmers have joined so far and more are expected to come. We are getting the support of south Haryana farmers too,” he said.
Terming the Centre “adamant and arrogant”, Yadav questioned why the agriculture laws were being pushed when farmers were opposed to them. “Ego is the only obstacle. Real dialogue is needed between the farmers and the PM,” he added.
Meanwhile, as farmers weathered the cold wave in the open, help came in the form of a group of Delhi University students, who brought bedding and tarpaulin sheets on Wednesday night. Some residents, too, pitched in with 800 litres of milk and two tractors full of oranges.
A large police contingent is keeping an eye on the protests, which have been peaceful so far. Anticipating a long haul, Haryana police have pitched three tents on the other side of the barricades to save themselves from the biting cold while Rajasthan police have created diversions at Manorpur, Kotputli and Shahpura for smooth traffic movement on that side.